At a press conference announcing his return to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, experienced right-handed Masahiro Tanaka, former New York Yankees, hinted he could return to the majors even before his two-year contract with the Japanese Eagles expires (i.e., by 2022 at the latest):
I feel like I have unfinished business in the United States, and I didn’t give up on that, so they agreed on terms that would keep those options open. ”
This could indicate an opt-out clause after the 2021 season, noted New York Post journalist Ken Davidoff, and possibly a return to the Yankees in 2022.
With the Yankees planning to reset their luxury tax limit this winter, the team opted to spend its resources elsewhere rather than re-sign Tanaka at the desired sale price.
In the coming low season, however, the Yankees may be willing to cross the tax threshold (and only pay a fine for the first time) to acquire Tanaka and other improvements on the 40 roster.